Australia ACCC Safety Recall of E-Scooters (2023)
The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) ordered a mandatory recall of non-compliant electric scooters sold through online marketplaces, citing fire and injury hazards from uncertified batteries and chargers.
What Happened
In 2023, the ACCC coordinated recalls of multiple electric scooter models sold on Amazon Australia and eBay AU after investigations revealed lithium battery packs and chargers did not meet Australian safety standards (AS/NZS 60335). Several incidents of scooters catching fire during charging were reported. Sellers were required to offer full refunds and remove all affected products. The ACCC also issued infringement notices with fines up to AUD 50,000 per violation for sellers who delayed compliance.
2023
Cross-border sellers imported electric scooters with uncertified batteries and chargers that did not meet Australian electrical safety standards.
Resolution
- 1Immediately stop selling all affected models and remove listings
- 2Issue consumer recall notice through ACCC's Product Safety Australia portal
- 3Offer full refunds to all buyers of recalled products
- 4Engage NATA-accredited testing laboratory for AS/NZS compliance testing
- 5Obtain certificate of compliance from accredited body before re-listing
Immediate recall response: 48 hours; full compliance: 3-6 months
AUD 50,000+ fines per violation + full refund costs + AUD 10,000-30,000 testing fees
Lessons Learned
- •Australia has strict mandatory safety standards for electrical products - voluntary compliance is not optional
- •ACCC has enforcement powers including mandatory recalls and substantial fines
- •Amazon AU cooperates with ACCC on product safety enforcement actions
- •Lithium battery products face heightened scrutiny in Australia due to fire risk
Prevention
- ✓Verify all electrical products meet AS/NZS standards before importing to Australia
- ✓Use NATA-accredited laboratories for pre-market safety testing
- ✓Monitor ACCC Product Safety Australia website for enforcement actions in your product category
- ✓Maintain product liability insurance covering the Australian market